Abortion is a relatively
frequent experience, yet public discourse about abortion is contentious and
stigmatizing. Little literature is available on private conversations about
abortion, which may be distinct from public discourse.
We explored private
discourse by documenting the nature of women’s discussions about abortion with
peers in a book club. We recruited thirteen women’s book clubs in nine states.
Participants (n =
119) read the book Choice: True Stories of Birth,
Contraception, Infertility, Adoption, Single Parenthood, & Abortion, and participated in a book club meeting, which
we audio-recorded and transcribed. Data collection occurred between April 2012
and April 2013. In contrast to public discourse of abortion, private discourse
was nuanced and included disclosures of multiple kinds of experiences with
abortion.
Participants disclosed having abortions, considering abortion as an
option for past or future pregnancies, and supporting others through an
abortion. Distinguishing between public and private discourse enabled us to
identify that an “abortion experience” could include personal decisions,
hypothetical decisions, or connection with someone having an abortion. The book
club atmosphere provided a rare opportunity for participants to explore their
relationship to abortion.
More research is needed to understand the role of
private discourse in reducing abortion stigma.
Purchase full article at: http://goo.gl/aIn0nJ
By: Stephanie Herold MPHa*, Katrina Kimport PhDb & Kate CockrillMPHa
- a The Sea Change Program, Oakland, California, USA
- b Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, University of California, San Francisco, Oakland, California, USA
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